How do I write GUI based applications (desktop apps) without using the event-driven-paradigm?

I'm currently developing a small application in Java, which makes use of the Swing API. As such, the application is heavily 'event driven'. The problem with this is that the flow of control becomes obscured. So I was wondering if there is an alternative approach. Do all programming languages use this event-driven-paradigm in GUI development? I've used other languages, such as Modula-2, but found no built in support for GUI development (like Swing). So how are/were GUI's developed using languages like modula-2, Pascal etc? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I think you should first ask yourself why you are designing a GUI based application at the first place. As long as it's a GUI then there must be interactivity between your application and the user. As long as there is interactivity, there must be something you'ld like to happen as a response to user's action. As long as you want to respond to the user you must handle events, because it's only through events you determine if the user does 1 thing or the other.
So now is it possible for you to program without handling events?
Events are there to make the flow of your application possible. A dead body is less useless than your application if it doesn't flow...
Even in the command driven applicaions you have to read and evaluate a users input in order to decide what should be your next move!
I think what you need is a solid understanding of objects and the event model. Soon after you understand object oriented programming (OOP), you'll appreciate the concept of events... then flow of control will not become obscured any more!
Within my little experience I know how it feels when you are writing programs. You tend to assume that you are really inside the computer and ineracting with your code... hahaha. A times you need to take some rest, in order to feel that you are not one of the objects in your application. But someone standing over them, defining their structure and functionality. Then you can be able to think and come up with better ideas and solutions...
Gd luck.

You need to get your head around event driven programming instead of looking for something else. One area that can make the flow get out of control is if you are not using objects, and you are changing global variables during execution.

Back in the old DOS days you did not have to worry about multiprocesses changing databases or variables at the same time. Now you do. There are many implementations of objects and that is the area you need to make some decisions.

Keep climbing the learning curve --- all will be revealed